We show the field-deployable prototype which can demonstrate this concept in the field testing. The prototype has the newly developed optical transceiver and optics. The transceiver integrates all functions of (i) pulse modulation of the transmitted light, (ii) heterodyne detection of the received light, (iii) digital signal processing, and (iv) system operation control. The optics is also unique and capable of multi-directional transmitting and receiving with one telescope. The above-mentioned technologies contribute to the compactness and portability. The optical circuit is the fiber-based. The size of the prototype is 1100 mm * 900 mm * 800 mm. The vertical profiling of the wind direction can be realized simultaneously owing to this multi-directional optics, in addition to the profiling of the water vapor density and wind speed. Some results of the initial observation test with the prototype are shown in addition to the preliminary test with the bench-top system. It was confirmed that the water vapor density and wind speed are measured simultaneously with the measurable range of more than 500 m, range resolution of 100 m, and measurement interval of 10 minutes. The correlation between the DIAL-measured water vapor density and the one measured by an in-situ sensor is also shown.
Talbot cavity is passive method to synchronize the phase of array lasers. Because the Talbot cavity does not need any electrical feedback systems, we believe that Talbot cavity is the most suitable technique to combine a considerable number of laser array into a compact system. A well-known drawback of the Talbot cavity is that it can produce out-phased array and their far-field image has 2-peak profile. To solve this drawback, we developed a frequency doubled laser array based on intra-Talbot-cavity second harmonic generation. Basic concept is second harmonic generation of the out-phased array generated from the Talbot cavity. Because the second harmonic wave is generated proportionally to the square of the fundamental wave, out-phase flips to in-phase. Our Talbot cavity is composed of a pumping 808-nm laser diode array with 15 emitters, an Nd:YVO4 planar waveguide, a PPLN planar waveguide, an f =10 cylindrical lens, and an output coupler (high reflection for 1064 nm and high transition to 532 nm). The pump laser beams are directly launched into the Nd:YVO4. The fundamental wave (1064 nm) oscillates between the Nd:YVO4 and the output coupler and generates second harmonic wave (532 nm) at the PPLN placed next to the Nd:YVO4. The round-trip optical path of the cavity length is set to 1/2 Talbot length so that Talbot cavity forms for the fundamental wave. As a result, we obtained 1-peak far-field image of second harmonic wave from the intra-Talbot-cavity second harmonic generation.
We have developed a 1.5-μm eye-safe wavelength high average power laser amplifier using an Er,Yb:glass planar
waveguide for coherent Doppler LIDAR. Large cooling surface of the planar waveguide enabled high average power
pumping for Er,Yb:glass which has low thermal fracture limit. Nonlinear effects are suppressed by the large beam size
which is designed by the waveguide thickness and the beam width of the planar direction. Multi-bounce optical path
configuration and high-intensity pumping provide high-gain and high-efficient operation using three-level laser material.
With pulsed operation, the maximum pulse energy of 1.9 mJ was achieved at the repetition rate of 4 kHz. Output average
power of the amplified signal was 7.6W with the amplified gain of more than 20dB. This amplifier is suitable for
coherent Doppler LIDAR to enhance the measurable range.
Recently, we have developed the high output power laser amplifier using Er,Yb:glass planar waveguide in order to
increase the measurable range of our 1.5 μm coherent Doppler LIDAR (CDL). In this paper, we introduce this
development and demonstration of a long range wind sensing using the developed system. The transmitted pulse has a
peak power of 2.4 kW and a width of 580 ns (i.e. pulse energy of 1.4 mJ) with a pulse repetition frequency of 4 kHz, in
addition to a nearly diffraction limited beam quality. With this laser amplifier, we demonstrate the measurable range of
more than 30 km. According to our own research, this is the longest measurable range demonstration for wind sensing
CDLs.
A coherent lidar is an attractive sensor for atmospheric observation because it enables the wind velocity measurement in clear air conditions. A 1.5-?m eye-safe coherent lidar is more attractive than a 2-?m eye-safe coherent lidar. The wavelength of 1.5-?m provides a ten times higher maximum permissible exposure for human eyes than the wavelength of 2-?m. In addition, optical fiber components and devices developed for optical fiber communications are easily available. We have already reported first 1.5-?m coherent lidar system for wind velocity measurement, and recently completed the full system. The system has the Er,Yb:Glass pulsed laser with the output energy 10.9-mJ and the telescope with effective aperture of 100-mm. The system provides the available measurement range of 5-km (SNR>+1-dB), the detectable wind velocity range of between -50- m/sec and +50-m/sec and the range resolution of 30-m. The velocity accuracy of 0.14-m/sec (standard deviation) is obtained by measuring velocity of a nonmoving hard target.
A coherent Doppler lidar is a useful sensor for wind velocity detection in clear air condition. A stable single frequency and relatively long Q-switched pulse width (~200 nsec order) in eye-safe wavelength range (>1.4 ?m) is required for a composed pulsed laser. For these requirements, we have developed an injection-seeded diode-pumped Q-switched Er,Yb:glass laser which oscillates at 1.54 ?m. The maximum laser output energy of 10.9 mJ and the pulse width of 228 nsec were obtained. A stability of the pulsed laser output frequency was less than +/-1.9 MHz standard deviation from the seeded light frequency.
Spaceborne Fourier transform spectrometers (FTSs) are one of the most promising sensors for global measurements of the atmosphere and/or the surface because of its potentialities for high spectral resolution and high accuracy. One of the difficulties for realizing a high performance FTS is how to overcome its performance degradation caused by disturbances such as mechanical vibrations and shocks. We have developed a computer-based simulator to evaluate the performance degradation. Influence of vibrations for various kinds of FTSs using different optical elements and different sampling methods are examined by evaluating spectral measurement errors quantitatively. It is shown that spectral measurement errors of FTSs is restrained by using corner cube reflectors and sampling method defined by laser interference.
For developing an imaging system, a computer based imaging simulator that predicts the performance of the system is desired. The simulator synthesizes images by various sensors under a wide variety of field conditions in the early design stage. The advantages of eliminating unnecessary trial manufacturing and field testing under severe environmental conditions are given herewith. In the simulator described in this paper, spectral radiance of an object is assumed as being the sum of the reflection of solar irradiance and sky radiance and the emission obtained from the emissivity and temperature of an object. Wavelength bands are selected from the visible to the far-infrared wavelength region. Spatial resolution, noise, shading, ghosts, narcissus and mechanical vibration of the optical components are considered to be image degradations by the use of sensors. This paper describes the simulation procedure and illustrates synthesized images with several objects and scenarios such as wavelength band, atmospheric conditions and degradations by the use of sensors. These images show that the presented simulator is effective in determining the specifications of a desired system.
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